[09/10/09 - 12:08 PM]Dancing with the Stars Welcomes Disney's Tony Award-Winning "The Lion King" on the First Results Show of Season 9, Wednesday, September 23 on AbcThe appearance coincides with "The Lion King's" recently passing the 50 million mark in worldwide attendance.

[via press release from ABC]

QUICK TAKE

"DANCING WITH THE STARS" WELCOMES DISNEY'S TONY AWARD-WINNING "THE LION KING" ON THE FIRST RESULTS SHOW OF SEASON 9, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 ON ABC

More Performers Than Ever Before Take the "Dancing with the Stars" Stage for the Oscar-Nominated "Circle of Life"

"Episode 901B" � On the first "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" of Season 9, the cast of Disney's Tony Award�-winning "The Lion King" will perform the spectacular "Circle of Life," the Oscar-nominated song that opens the show, in a stunning parade of costumes, animal puppetry and the greatest number of performers to ever take to the "Dancing with the Stars" stage, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. The appearance coincides with "The Lion King's" recently passing the 50 million mark in worldwide attendance.

Disney's "The Lion King" continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. Now in its 12th year, the global phenomenon is the winner of more than 70 major awards worldwide, including the 1998 Tony Award and NY Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy� for Best Musical Show Album, and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The show has been seen in 13 different countries (U.S., Canada, UK, Japan, Germany, Holland, France, Mexico, Australia, China, Taiwan, South Africa and Korea). In addition to Broadway, a North American national tour and a sit-down production at Mandalay Bay Theatre in Las Vegas, "The Lion King" can also be seen on stage in London, Hamburg, Paris and Tokyo. For tickets and more information regarding "The Lion King," visit www.disneyonbroadway.com.

Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Samantha Harris ("The Insider"), the celebrities will perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. "Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade is co-executive producer. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

About BBC Worldwide Productions:

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In the U.S., BBC Worldwide Productions, one of BBC Worldwide's seven core businesses, is based in Los Angeles and New York. It is responsible for the smash hit "Dancing with the Stars" and develops scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks.